Evaluation of the biological toxicity of lfuorine in Antarctic krill

Antarctic krill is a potentially nutritious food source for humans, but lfuorine （F） toxicity is a matter of concern. To evaluate the toxicity of F in Antarctic krill, 30 Wistar rats were divided into three groups with different dietary regimens：a control group, a krill treatment group （150 mg＆#183;kg-1 F）, and a sodium lfuoride （NaF） treatment group （150 mg＆#183;kg-1 F）. After three months, F concentrations in feces, plasma, and bone were determined, and the degree of dental and skeletal lfuorosis was assessed. The F concentrations in plasma and bone from the krill treatment group were 0.167 0＆#177;0.020 4 mg.L-1 and 2 709.8＆#177;301.9 mg＆#183;kg-1, respectively, compared with 0.043 8＆#177;0.005 5 mg＆#183;L-1 and 442.4＆#177;60.7 mg＆#183;kg-1, respectively, in samples from the control group. Concentrations of F in plasma and bone in the krill treatment group were higher than in the control group, but lower than in the NaF treatment group. The degree of dental lfuorosis in the krill treatment group was moderate, compared with severe in the NaF treatment group and normal in the control group. The degree of skeletal lfuorosis did not change signiifcantly in any group. These results showed that the toxicity of F in Antarctic krill was lower than for an equivalent concentration of F in NaF, but it was toxic for rats consuming krill in large quantities. To conclude, we discuss possible reasons for the reduced toxicity of F in Antarctic krill. The present study provides a direct toxicological reference for the consideration of Antarctic krill for human consumption.     

Tandem repeat arrays in the mitochondrial genome as a tool for detecting genetic differences among the ark shell Scapharca broughtonii

We found that tandem repeat (TR) arrays were present in the ark shell Scapharca broughtonii mitochondrial genome, and we demonstrated the efficiency of using this TR region as a tool for the detection of genetic differentiation. In samples collected from seven populations off the Japanese, Chinese, Russian and Korean coasts, five TR types with length ranging from 481 to 601 bp (base pairs) were found, as were 18 haplotypes (n = 155). All the Japanese samples from SD, IK, AM and KG, which represented four geographically distinct populations, had the same type of tandem repeat array, 481‐TR. All the samples from China and all but one sample from Russia had the same TR type, 511‐TR; these finding may be strong evidence that the ark shell populations in China and Russia are very similar. Based on a neighbor‐joining dendrogram of haplotypes, the Korean population was divided into two groups as follows: samples with haplotype H481‐3 and samples with haplotypes H601‐1, H601‐2, H601‐3 or H541‐1. Based on the haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity, the Chinese, Russian and Korean populations showed a higher diversity than Japanese populations (P < 0.05).     

Clay minerals in SW Indian continental shelf sediment cores as indicators of provenance and palaeomonsoonal conditions: a statistical approach

Two sediment cores from the inner continental shelf of SW India, SK‐148/13 (4.66 m long; from 50 m water depth) and SK‐148/14 (5.37 m long; from 22 m water depth), were studied for provenance and palaeomonsoonal implications. Sediment layers at different depth intervals in these cores were estimated for clay minerals and organic matter content. Five surface sediment samples from the nearby Kali River estuary of the adjacent hinterland were also analysed for clay mineral contents. In both cores and Kali River sediments, smectite is the dominant clay followed by illite, and kaolinite or chlorite. Based on the similarities of the abundances of clay minerals and their relative wt‐% in the inner shelf sediment cores and in surface sediments of the estuary as demonstrated by significance tests, Al‐rich illite, and negligible contribution of clay from the deep‐sea and aeolian sources, it can be inferred that the sediments of the two inner continental shelf cores were derived from the adjacent hinterland. Application of statistical discordancy and significance tests on the down‐core variations in the crystallinity index (CI) of illite and organic matter content in the sediment cores indicates intense monsoonal (high rainfall) conditions at the adjacent hinterland during about 4300–6200 and 9300–10,400 years BP. These inferences are comparable to those from other well‐established palaeomonsoonal indicators such as sedimentation rates and mineral magnetic properties. The CI of illite, an easily determinable and climatically sensitive parameter, can thus be a reliable palaemonsoonal indicator for inner shelf sediment cores. The statistical methodology used in this work highlights the advantages of a quantitative interpretation of the data instead of the conventional qualitative visual examination.     

Large‐scale connectivity of Grapsus grapsus (Decapoda) in the Southwestern Atlantic oceanic islands: integrating genetic and morphometric data

The degree of connectivity among island populations can influence their demography and affect their level of genetic differentiation. In this study we investigated genetic and morphometric differences among four populations of Grapsus grapsus (Linnaeus 1758), in Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (0°55′ N, 29°20′ W), Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (3°50′ S, 32°24′ W), Rocas Atoll (3°50′ S, 33°49′ W) and Trindade Island (20°30′ S, 29°20′ W) from 2003 to 2011. Morphometric results indicated the existence of two distinct groups based on the morphology of their chelae (Trindade Island/Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago versus Fernando de Noronha/Rocas Atoll). In addition, genetic variation in a fragment of the mitochondrial control region revealed substantial differentiation between Trindade and the other islands, with Trindade Island showing only exclusive haplotypes. The congruence of the genetic and morphologic analyses suggests the occurrence of a divergent population in Trindade Island as well as high connectivity among the three remaining equatorial islands. This is the first study to assess the level of morphologic differentiation and genetic connectivity of a species among all four Southwestern Atlantic oceanic islands. Our results provide valuable insight into understanding connectivity through surface ocean currents and suggest that the unstable current system of this area could be responsible for different dispersal patterns. We also suggest that the design of Brazilian marine protected areas should be adjusted to provide stronger protection for Trindade Island as it harbors unique genetic and morphologic variation in G. grapsus.     

条石鲷(Oplegnathus fasciatus)养殖群体与野生群体线粒体控制区序列遗传变异研究

采用线粒体(mtDNA)控制区序列分析方法,进行了条石鲷养殖群体(F1代和F2代)与野生群体的遗传变异比较研究.结果表明:在长度为484bp的mtDNA控制区片段中,条石鲷养殖群体F1代单倍型多样度水平(h=0.955±0.047)略低于野生群体(h=1.000±0.034),却显著高于养殖F2代群体(h=0.797±0.070);条石鲷野生群体(π=0.021±0.012)、养殖群体F1代(π=0.018士0.010)和养殖群体F2代(π=0.014±0.008)的核苷酸多样度水平呈现明显的递减趋势;核苷酸不配对分布和两两序列相比较碱基差异结果显示条石鲷野生群体、养殖群体F1代和养殖群体F2代也呈现明显的递减趋势.分子方差分析(AMOVA)、两两群体相比较的ΦsT和确切P检验结果皆显示条石鲷养殖群体F1代和F2代与野生群体存在显著的遗传分化.单倍型最小跨度分析和NJ系统分析结果均未检测到显著的谱系结构.     

Modification of the polyethylene glycol 6000 precipitation method for recovering human and indicator viruses from oysters and mussels

Human viruses are a common contaminant of shellfish affected by human sewage wastes. They are difficult to detect as they are not easily separated from shellfish tissue. This paper describes a modification of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation technique for recovery of enteroviruses and F‐specific bacteriophages from the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and the green‐lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus). Modifications adopted were the use of only the digestive gland tissue for virus extraction, resuspension of the primary PEG pellet in 4 volumes of eluent, and the introduction of a secondary PEG precipitation to reconcentrate the virus containing extract. The recovery rate of the virus extraction process was not affected by introduction of the secondary concentration step (overall recovery remained at 60–70% of the virus input). The advantages of reduction of tissue residue in the extract, smaller final volume, and the ability to process 2–3 times the number of individual shellfish for the same effort, improve the practicality of the method.     

The Lithium‐rich supergiant HD172365

The F‐type supergiant HD172365 was discovered by Luck (1982) to be a high Li abundance star. We find that the lithium abundance in this star is log A(Li) = 2.9 from a careful spectroscopic study. This value is larger than the abundance derived by Luck. We discuss the properties of this supergiant and tentatively conclude that HD172365 may, in fact, be a post‐blue straggler star with a mass ∼2 times greater than the “turn‐off point” mass for the open cluster IC 4756, of which HD172365 is a member. The star is formed by a merger of a close binary system. This conclusion is supported by, for example, its large projected rotational velocity, solar carbon abundance and high lithium content.     

The knotty structure of the HII dwarf galaxy F348

[OIII] images and blue spectra of the emission-line dwarf galaxy F348 are presented. In [OIII] light, the object contains two knots about 9” NE of the nucleus and one large extended knot 11” to the SW. The nuclear region is hundred times less luminous in emission-line light than the knots. Despite the presence of line intensity ratios [OIII]λ5007/Hβ > 3 the prior classification as a Seyfert-2 object cannot be upheld. This clinches an earlier suggestion by Veron-Cetty & Veron (1986). In particular, we show that the line spectra can be modeled with photoionization models employing stellar input continua. Also, the line luminosities of the extranuclear knots are typical for giant HII regions. There is neither evidence for tidal tails nor for high velocity differences between the knots. In addition, the linear arrangement of the knots does not support interaction. It rather suggests self-propagating star formation In this picture, the faintness of the nuclear region can be understood by an edge-on view. In addition, the nuclear starburst appears to be fading in contrast to the young extranuclear star formation regions. Within the scheme of Melnick (1987), F348 has to be classified as a multiple-system HII galaxy.